Well, sir, she had all of mine and more; and when all was gone in wine and dice, woodcocks' brains and ortolans' tongues, I met the witch walking with another man.

I had a sword and a dagger; I gave him the first (though the dog fought well enough, to give him his due), and her the second; left them lying across each other, and fled for my life,--and here I am! after twenty years of fighting, from the Levant to the Orellana--for I began ere I had a hair on my chin--and this is the end!--No, it is not! I'll have that El Dorado yet! the Adelantado made Berreo, when he gave him his daughter, swear that he would hunt for it, through life and death .-- We'll see who finds it first, he or I.He's a bungler; Orsua was a bungler--Pooh! Cortes and Pizarro?
we'll see whether there are not as good Castilians as they left still.

I can do it, senor.

I know a track, a plan; over the Llanos is the road; and I'll be Emperor of Manoa yet--possess the jewels of all the Incas; and gold, gold! Pizarro was a beggar to what I will be!" Conceive, sir, he broke forth during another of these peacock fits, as Amyas and he were riding along the hill-side; "conceive! with forty chosen cavaliers (what need of more ?) I present myself before the golden king, trembling amid his myriad guards at the new miracle of the mailed centaurs of the West; and without dismounting, I approach his throne, lift the crucifix which hangs around my neck, and pressing it to my lips, present it for the adoration of the idolater, and give him his alternative; that which Gayferos and the Cid, my ancestors, offered the Soldan and the Moor--baptism or death! He hesitates; perhaps smiles scornfully upon my little band; I answer him by deeds, as Don Ferdinando, my illustrious grandfather, answered Atahuallpa at Peru, in sight of all his court and camp." "With your lance-point, as Gayferos did the Soldan ?" asked Amyas, amused.
"No, sir; persuasion first, for the salvation of a soul is at stake.

Not with the lance-point, but the spur, sir, thus!"-- And striking his heels into his horse's flanks, he darted off at full speed.
"The Spanish traitor!" shouted Yeo.